Karnataka · Travel

Nanjangud Srikanteshwara Temple: magnificence and majesty

The little town of Nanjangud, about 25 km from the city of Mysore in Karnataka has been a place I have been visiting since childhood.  It has become a practice for us to visit the temple of Lord Shiva here at least once in a year.

The renowned temple formally known as the Srikanteshwara temple, is literally the heart and soul of this quaint town.  In fact the name of the town itself is derived from the word “Nanjundeshwara” which is another name for Lord Shiva.  A highly revered and sacred destination, this is also an extremely popular pilgrimage centre and is also known as the “Kashi of the south”.

The exterior of the temple
The exterior of the temple

Located on the banks of the Kapila river (a tributary of the Cauvery), a visit to the temple is believed to cure one of all diseases.  An interesting legend has it that the temple was patronized by the famous ruler Tipu Sultan who visited this temple when one of his favorite elephants lost his eyesight.  After praying here, the elephant was cured and hence Tipu Sultan called God Nanjundeshwara as ‘Hakim (or doctor) Nanjundeshwara’. Even today the God here is believe to be a healer for His devotees.

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The temple itself is an architectural marvel built in the Dravidian style with a rich history spanning centuries.  The pillars are exquisite and the carvings intricate.  It has been renovated and expanded by many kings and dynasties including the Cholas, Hoysalas, Krishnadevaraya and most recently the Wodeyaras of Mysore right from the 9th century to the 19th century.

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Stone carvings in the temple

Here are some quick facts about this fascinating structure:

  • It was originally built by the Ganga rulers in the 9th century during their occupation of this land.
  • The entrie temple complex spans an area of about 1 acre.
  • The temple measures 385 feet by 160 feet making it one of the biggest in Karnataka.
  • The main Gopura (tower) on the entrance is about 120 feet high and one of the largest in the state.
  • There are a whopping 121 statues of Shiva in different avatars including more than 65 Lingas.  The inner walls of the temple also have depictions of 32 forms of Lord Ganapathi.

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Inside the temple courtyard
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The massive bull Nandi inside the temple. Nandi is the mount of Lord Shiva

Other places of interests in the town of Nanjangud is the confluence of the rivers – Kapila and Gundlu and also the Raghavendra Math.  The confluence is called the “Parashurama Kshetra” and also has a Parashurama temple built in the Mysore style.  The Raghavendra Math which was established a few hundred years ago is also a site of high religious significance.

Nanjangud is a little more than 160 km from Bangalore and can be visited en route to Ooty or Bandipur.

27 thoughts on “Nanjangud Srikanteshwara Temple: magnificence and majesty

  1. Thanks Indrani; yes it is much better preserved than many of the other temples. Also the Government takes active interest and the place has been renovated and maintained many a time.

  2. Temples always fascinate us; they are so beautiful and offer so much history. We’ve never been in one but have seen the largest one (outside India) in NW London. Your pictures of the Srikanteshwara temple are absolutely stunning and we are so grateful; you allow other people see places that they might not ever get to experience themselves through these great photos. Thanks for another lovely post Rashmi. 🙂

  3. That is so nice of both of you; thank you so much. I hope to “meet” you expectations with my future posts as well:) Thanks for taking the time to read and comment!

  4. interesting post, loved reading it, nice shots and the place is amazing.i like the places where the architectural work of ancient India can be seen. one day i will surely visit this place.

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